Despite its abundant farmland, North Okanagan families still struggle to access fresh, nutritious food.
But more locals will soon have better access to healthy, fresh food as funding bolsters support for critical food infrastructure.
The Land to Table Network Society received $1 million through the provincial Critical Food Infrastructure Fund (CFIF) to develop the Food Shed, the old Armstrong Cheese warehouse, which will support the distribution of nutritious food to those in need across multiple regions.
"We know that due to the global inflation and uncertainties, some people in B.C. and in our region are struggling to put good food on the table and to buy daily essentials like groceries; therefore, our government is continuing to take action," said Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu, who is also parliamentary secretary for agriculture.
"We are funding critical infrastructure updates that will connect community service agencies with local food suppliers, helping more people access fresh and local food to address this challenge."
The project will involve upgrading a cold-storage warehouse in Armstrong to collect, combine, process, store, market and distribute food.
The upgrades will help schools, institutions, food banks and non-profit organizations in nearby regions connect to year-round, local, affordable food.
The $14-million CFIF, announced in September 2023, will span three years and is administered by United Way British Columbia.
It provides grants for food-infrastructure projects that increase a community's capacity to offer nutritious and culturally appropriate food to people who need it.
"This unique, centralized distribution will increase sales opportunities for local producers, increasing employment and revenue," said Liz Blakeway, executive director, Land to Table Network. "At the same time, it will help meet the growing demand that schools, food banks and non-profits experience for affordable food for the people they serve."
Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, says "when it comes to strengthening food security and food supply for British Columbians, collaboration is key."
